Ohio Skating Adventure

May 13 - 17, 2019

Overview

Itinerary

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“Life should not only be lived, it should be celebrated.”Osho

Who knew western Ohio was chock-full of wide, smooth trails perfect for skating? Over 300 miles of trail to explore, most of them converted rail trails (flat and smooth), await us in western Ohio. Skate under the shade of thick forests, along lazy rivers and creeks, and through charming small-town America.

Stay all four nights in the same charming hotel without having to pack up and move

DAY 1

We meet at the Dayton, Ohio airport and shuttle to a beautiful park south of the city for our initial skate on the Great Miami River Trail. After introductions to all your wonderful tripmates, you can choose to participate in a skating clinic to refresh your skills or begin skating right away! This 12-foot wide rail trail hugs the river, making its way through several quaint towns and many beautiful parks full of mature trees that provide shade until we reach downtown Dayton. Along the way, be sure to stop at the charming and historic little downtown of Miamisburg (where our short route ends).

Dayton has a rich brewing heritage. Before our 30-minute commute to Yellow Springs for the evening, we’ll first have dinner at the Carillon Brewing Company, where you can taste beers from different points in history and see how they have changed from “sour” ales of the 1850s through the drinks of Post-Prohibition to today’s craft brews. Even if you aren’t a beer drinker, you’ll enjoy watching the beer being made via old-fashioned methods with copper kettles, wooden barrels, and charcoal fires that make each batch of brew. Plus, it is also a beautiful and brand-new museum!Skating distances: 10 miles / 18 miles / 25 miles

DAY 2

Rise and shine! Our breakfast today is at our charming hotel in the equally charming town of Yellow Springs (population 3,700). Yellow Springs has what is likely to be one of the cutest main streets you’ve ever seen! We start the day with a shuttle to the town of Tipp City, where we’ll skate another section of the wide, flat Great Miami River Trail, through vibrant river towns and acres of parkland. We’ll be heading downstream with the river, so you’ll be able to make the miles fly by with ease! Our skate takes us again into Dayton, the birthplace of flight (remember the Wright Brothers?). If you have interest, we encourage you to visit the Air Force Museum before heading back to Yellow Springs for a little exploration time and dinner! Depending on what’s playing, we’ll organize a night at the movies at the beautifully restored and adorable Little Art Theater just a couple blocks from our hotel.Skating distances: 9 miles / 17 miles / 33 miles

DAY 3

You’ll be able to skate right out the back of our main street hotel to get onto a trail that takes us south from Yellow Springs to the town of Xenia, a trail hub with “spokes” radiating out in five directions! Our route today again goes all the way south to Dayton, starting out with a brilliant green canopy of trees overhead, as well as a skate under a beautifully restored covered bridge. Don’t worry – we won’t make you skate back (unless you choose to!). You’ll have the option to skate on three connecting paved paths – the Little Miami, Creekside, and Mad River Trails. Before or after an intimate dinner at our hotel, the property’s southern-style front porch will tempt you with comfortable rocking chairs where you can just hang out and watch the world go by.Skating distances: 10 miles / 18 miles / 28 miles

DAY 4

We’ll again skate out the back of our hotel to the trail, this time turning north toward the historic town of Springfield (and beyond, to the reservoir, if you choose). If you’re a history or architecture fan, you might want to visit the Heritage Center Museum or Frank Lloyd Wright’s Westcott House before or after lunch. Choose to skate back to Yellow Springs, or ride back in the Zephyr shuttle. No visit to Yellow Springs would be complete without a visit to the famous Young’s Dairy for ice cream, so be sure to save time for a post-skate treat! If ice cream isn’t your thing, visit the local brewery in Yellow Springs – the patio overlooks the trail we were just on. Our final celebratory dinner will be at a lovely downtown restaurant, where we can toast our skating accomplishments.Skating distances: 10 miles / 20 miles / 32 miles

DAY 5

After an early breakfast at Ellie’s Restaurant and Bakery, we will shuttle to Xenia and skate a beautiful out-and-back route, (with flexible mileage) south toward the town of Corwin before returning to Xenia. The surrounding bucolic countryside is comprised of cornfields, beautiful rows of trees, farmhouses, and creeks full of kids fishing and swimming. We get you back to the hotel in time to shower and check out before setting everyone loose for lunch in Yellow Springs. We will provide an airport shuttle (arriving at 3:00 PM) for those who are flying home today.Skating distances: flexible

Trip Accommodations

This small and brand-new hotel is located at the end of Yellow Springs’ three-block downtown. It offers modern rooms along with historic charm provided by its southern-style front porch complete with rocking chairs, a cozy lobby with couches and a sweeping staircase, a cute gift shop, and on-site restaurant. You will feel right at home here!

We meet you at Dayton, Ohio Airport (airport code DAY) at 12:30 PM on the first day of the trip. Plan on a flight arriving no later than 12:00 PM. If you are driving, you can park your car in long-term parking lot for as little as $4.95 per day. If you arrive early to Dayton, you can easily take a shuttle downtown and we will instead pick you up at an as-yet-to-be-determined hotel on the first morning of the trip.

On the last day, we will shuttle you back to the airport by 3:00 PM, so you can fly out any time after 4:30 PM. Upon booking, we will send you a Pre-Departure Packet with more information on this trip and suggestions for what to do if you want to spend extra time in the area.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

At least two Zephyr guides accompany the trip and a third is added as necessary.

Double occupancy lodging is included. If you are traveling solo, we will match you with another traveler of the same gender. However, you may pay a single supplement to have your own room.

All of your dinners and breakfasts are included. Gratuity for these meals is also included. In general, we leave lunches open so that you have time to explore and enjoy the local flavors en route.

All your transportation is included once you meet your guides on the first day.

All trail fees and permits are included.

NOT INCLUDED Beverages, desserts, lunches, gratuities to your guides, personal expenses and travel to and from the destination.

Weather

The average May temperature in Ohio is pleasantly in the mid-60s with the average high in the low 70s. It is spring time so there is a possibility of rain.

Changes to Your Itinerary

While everything under “What is Included” will remain the same, the actual restaurants, hotels, and activities listed in our itineraries are subject to modifications. Changes that are out of our control are common – a restaurant closes or loses its awesome chef, a winery changes its visiting hours, a hotel gets remodeled, a road or trail undergoes construction. You are entrusting us to create an outstanding vacation for you and so it is possible we may take the liberty of making necessary changes (even at the last minute, during the guides’ scout trip) to the itinerary that will improve your overall trip experience.